Expert Details
What can you do to improve your beach? Ask Jo whose SLSC has won nine environmental awards.
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Name: Jo Cooper |
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Description:
Jo Cooper is a Coastal Ambassador at North Steyne Surf Lifesaving Club and has a detailed knowledge of coastal systems, ecology and marine life. 
With Jo as their Coastal Ambassador, North Steyne SLSC has won nine awards for environmental initiatives, including being named Sydney’s Cleanest Beach in the 2008 Keep Australia Beautiful Awards. The club was also named Surf Lifesaving Australia’s ‘Club of the Year’ for 2008, thanks to its role as an environmental pioneer.
Jo is currently involved in a ‘think tank’ with Surf Lifesaving Australia which aims to help all surf clubs implement environmental initiatives, such as working with Coastcare groups. 
In December 2007, North Steyne SLSC hosted the launch of Life Saving Energy, in which Jo helped coordinate a 5,000 strong human sight on the beach – Australia’s largest ever human sign!
| Questions and Answers |
Questions Posted by: Mark Casswell |
| Qn: As a program manager for a Regional body what tips have you in terms of partnership architecture you would see as desireable. Also what advice have you on leveraging off our unique ecotone as in southern extent of the GBR and Northern extent of some Southern marine species. Thanks. Ans: Hi Mark, the Burnett Mary Regional area certainly covers a wonderful part of Australia ... The transitional zone between the Great Barrier Reef, wetlands of the Great Sandy Strait, Fraser Island and land that is more than 75% managed by graziers and farmers does present a unique set of parameters, the pressure to preserve riparian zones, which contribute so significantly to the health of aquatic ecosystems, the threat of salinisation and climatic influences that are of great concern to us all must weigh heavily with those managing this region of worldwide heritage significance. But for me, a gal that likes things in simple terms, the leverage is the same everywhere. The enthusiasm of those with passion, getting information about what we have, out to the wider community. Particularly our youth. Locally, for us on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, courses like the Coastal Ambassadors program; a partnership between Narrabeen Coastal Environment Centre and Surf Lifesaving and on a broader scale cooperation between organisations like Coastcare and Surf Lifesaving Australia, Keep Australia Beautiful's Clean Beach Challenge and Tidy Towns are great examples of this kind of action in place. I believe it is information that enables us to influence and only when large numbers are informed will our best opportunity present to leverage off the unique piece of coast that has been entrusted to us for safekeeping. Edit: Chris Tola :"As a former or current member or participant in many of the programs Jo's mentioned - I fully agree." |
Questions Posted by: Lisa |
| Qn: What are three things a surf club can do to become more environmentally friendly? Ans: Hi Lisa, Thanks for the question regarding what your surf club can do to become more environmentally friendly. There are just so many things, but a great way to start is to initiate a recycling and litter abatement program. Keeping litter off our beach is important as the sandy beach is a dynamic marine habitat with thousands of different creatures living in the sand and the surf zone. These creatures and organisms help recycle organic matter and filter the entire surf zone every 2 weeks! Getting junior surf club members involved in a clean up is fantastic - kids are amazed when they find out that most of the action is happening out of sight right beneath their feet! And that litter on the beach, especially cigarette butts prevent these sand dwelling creatures from performing vital life-sustaining processes. You can also organise for an energy audit to be compiled at your club ... this will help with what your club can do to save energy and money - a big thing for a voluntary organisation. Native vegetation can be replanted and a dune care program started (check with council or your local coastcare group for help on this). The use of recycled napkins, cups etc. for all functions. These are things that do not cost a lot and can be implemented quickly with some planning. Other things to work at and plan are: Push button taps on showers and basins, rainwater storage tanks to wash down gear, solar panels for hot water, micro turbines and photovoltaic (PV) cells for power generation to the club and surrounds. Really making the most of what we have in abundance at most beaches - wind and sunshine. Your Local council is a great place to start. As they usually have an environmental officer and someone you can talk to about recycling and refuse. I have found them to be really supportive of initiatives like this, as like us, their aim is a clean beach. |
Questions Posted by: Melissa |
Qn:In what ways could the general public, coastcare groups etc be making a real positive impact, in your field of work/expertise? Ans: Hi Melissa ... I guess you could say my area of expertise is motivating the community to make a difference! ... So your questions are great. Thank You. One of the greatest things coastcare groups can do is to get information out to people, to let them know HOW they can make a difference. Just basic things are really important. People are very keen and wanting to get into looking after their environment but do not know where to start. Some of the groups I have been involved with have done some amazing things. Often starting with simple ideas. One of my big issues is recycling or the lack of it from coastal organisations. Very few surf clubs for example separate their rubbish and recycle. I believe this is something everyone should do all the time. Not just when it is easy. Most councils are very supportive of this kind of initiative and it just takes a bit of organisation in getting member and community support. Our junior members at North Steyne SLSC have taken this on and made it their badge of honour and watching them in action gives you the feeling that our future is in good hands. |
| Qn:If you could change one thing tomorrow about the way our coastal systems and resources are currently managed, what would that be? Ans: If I could change one thing tomorrow it would be for Government to immediately introduce a rebate scheme to individuals and organisations that have installed solar panels and micro turbines and are supplying power back to the grid. This would encourage large numbers in the community to install these devices. In the long term I think this would save greenhouse gas emissions from large coal powered plants, and eventually, the Government financially, as it would not have to install more and more of these mammoth resource gobblers. |
Qn:What are your major environmental concerns for our coastal and marine environments in the short and long term? Ans: I guess my major concern for our coastline is that if we do not take action NOW there will be no coastline. Or the really drastic outcome that the world will change to such a degree that it will be we humans that do not survive. |
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